This one has been on my list for ages. I actually ordered the roses off Etsy in December (from this seller), but just got around to making it now. I was heavily inspired by the Crown & Glory Whole Lotta Rosie headbands and after looking at a few tutorials online, I went my own route with the supplies I already had on hand.

You’ll need: 20 gauge wire, 2-3 feet of ribbon, fake flowers & leaves, hot glue gun & glue, felt cut into small (~2cm) circles

1. Measure your head and cut a piece of wire a few centimetres larger. 2. Form your wire into a circle and twist the ends around the wire to keep it together. Add a little hot glue here for added security. 3. Put a small line of hot glue on the wire and stick the end of your ribbon to it. 4. Begin wrapping your ribbon around the wire, adding hot glue every once in a while to keep it in place. When you get all the way  around, glue ribbon down. 5. Cut roses off stems so that there is a flat surface. 6. One a a time, glue a rose onto your crown. Hold it in place until it dries and then glue one of the felt pieces over the wire so that it holds  your rose in place. Continue with the rest of your roses.

I didn’t take any process shots, so I hope my explanations are clear enough. It’s a really easy process, but please let me know if you have any questions.

The roses I used are quite large, so this is definitely a statement piece, but you could use the same method with whatever sized flowers you’d like.

Let me know if you give it a try. I’d love to see a picture!

Love & roses,

The post 52 Weeks of DIY // How to Make a Flower Crown appeared first on The Laughing Medusa.

I found this tutorial for D.I.Y. chevron rings on Pinterest and knew I wanted to give it a try. I love the above-the-knuckle ring trend and these delicate pieces look so pretty all stacked together.

This project wasn’t a complete success. The wire I’d initially bought at Michael’s was too thick and I couldn’t get it to bend properly. I ended up using some cheap craft wire I bought from the dollar store for another project. The rings are pretty flimsy, so I’m guessing they won’t last long. I’ll be wearing them today though and making them gave me some practice with the technique. I’ll definitely be making some more once I get the right guage of wire.

I didn’t use a tutorial to make this necklace – I just designed it from a few supplies I already had on hand. There’s a peacock feather, a slice of agate, and a small leaf charm strung together on gold chain. I’m giving it to my friend Tea for her birthday, which is a few days after I leave.

I also made a batch of my poison-free deodorant. It’s SO much more effective than the natural brand I was using all summer. I shouldn’t have put off making it for so long. And I whipped together Meghan’s Edible Body Butter. It smells amazing and makes my skin so soft – I definitely recommend this recipe!

Have you worked on any fun projects this week? Do you plan to give any of these a try?

The post 52 Weeks of DIY // Chevron Rings & a Peacock Necklace appeared first on The Laughing Medusa.

First was these crystal bullet casing necklaces. I’d seen them on Etsy, but never managed to justify the expense. I collected a few casings when we went to the gun range, with hopes that I could figure out how to make them myself. I found this tutorial on Tanya’s blog and a friend of mine brought his drill over to make the holes in the top. My crystal points weren’t drilled, so I created a small knot in the bottom of the wire before threading it through the hole and then I made the loop according to the tutorial. Then I just used my favourite superglue to attach the crystals inside of the casings. I made the necklaces a variety of lengths. I think they look really cool all layered together.

I’ve also been lusting after luxurious maxi skirts, but the ones I like best are always quite pricey. I was able to make these for less than $10 each using this tutorial (no pattern required). The only change I made was to take the hips in a little bit to give them a more fitted look on top. I used dark blue stretch velvet and a heavy hot pink jersey (both from Fabricland). I’m really happy with how they came out and I think they’d be easy to whip up, even if you’re an inexperienced sewer.

What about you: have you worked on any D.I.Y. projects this week? Do you want to give either of these tutorials a try?

Happy crafting!

The post 52 Weeks of D.I.Y. // Maxi Skirts and Bullet Casing Necklaces appeared first on The Laughing Medusa.

My idea behind the challenge was to really stretch my D.I.Y. muscles, take on new projects, and learn a few techniques. Mostly this hasn’t been happening as I’ve been staying in my comfort zone of jewelry making. That’s why I’m creating a new series: 52 Weeks of D.I.Y. Each week I’ll be sharing a tutorial I’ve tried, either one I came up with myself or something I’ve found on the blogosphere. By sharing my creations with you, I think I’ll be motivated to try a wider variety of projects.

To kick things off, last week I came up with an idea for turning an air mail envelope and some scrap paper into a travel journal. I’ve shared the tutorial on Alli’s blog, in case you want to make your own – it’s super easy and the end result is pretty darn cute.

What have you D.I.Yed recently? Are there any awesome tutorials you’ve found that you think I should try out?

With sparkles on my face & glue on my hands,

The post The Birthday List // 52 Weeks of D.I.Y. appeared first on The Laughing Medusa.